Written Answers Thursday 29 November 2007

Scottish Executive

2014 Commonwealth Games

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legacy the 2014 Commonwealth Games will leave for Shetland.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government has a very clear commitment to ensuring that the whole of Scotland benefits from the Commonwealth Games in 2014.

  We will work with relevant agencies and local authorities to ensure that, Scottish businesses are well-placed to bid for contracts arising from the games, that visitors to the games are encouraged to travel to other parts of the country, and that youngsters everywhere are inspired to take up sport.

  Further information on how we intend to deliver a lasting legacy from the 2014 Commonwealth Games will be published for consultation within the first 100 days of winning the bid.

2014 Commonwealth Games

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment it will provide for the development of sport in Shetland in the years leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Stewart Maxwell: The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games offer an unrivalled opportunity to inspire a new generation to take up sport and to be physically active. Within 100 days of the announcement of the decision to host the games in Glasgow, we will publish for consultation an initial plan of how to capture these benefits.

  It is for Shetland Council to decide levels of investment in sport in Shetland. In accordance with the Concordat agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA on 14 November 2007, we have no plans to ring-fence any funding to local government for this purpose.

  Officials are in discussions with sportscotland about funding priorities for sport for the period to 2011. It has been an extremely tight spending round but we have secured additional funding for sport. Orkney can be considered for additional funding in accordance with existing schemes and procedures and will of course continue to benefit from our funding of active schools.

Adoption

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4661 by Jim Mather on 15 October 2007, how many children aged under six months were registered for adoption in each year from 1967 to 1987, also showing the total number of births in each year.

Jim Mather: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Adoptions of Children Aged Under Six Months, 1967-87

  

 Year of Adoption
 Number
 Total Number of Births


 1967
 277
 96,221


 1968
 308
 94,786


 1969
 315
 90,290


 1970
 244
 87,335


 1971
 185
 86,728


 1972
 195
 78,550


 1973
 215
 74,392


 1974
 165
 70,093


 1975
 135
 67,943


 1976
 102
 64,895


 1977
 93
 62,342


 1978
 85
 64,294


 1979
 36
 68,366


 1980
 72
 68,890


 1981
 70
 69,054


 1982
 85
 66,196


 1983
 85
 65,078


 1984
 70
 65,106


 1985
 51
 66,676


 1986
 56
 65,812


 1987
 33
 66,241

Agriculture

George Foulkes (Lothians) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the responsibilities for agricultural compensation payments in Scotland of the (a) European Commission, (b) UK Government and (c) Scottish Executive.

Richard Lochhead: The Scottish Government has sole responsibility for disease compensation payments made under tuberculosis and brucella legislation and for compensation due for warble fly.

  UK Government has agreed to pay compensation due in respect of other notifiable animal diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease. The Scotland Act 1998 (Concurrent Functions) Order 1999 enables those payments.

  European Union funding is available to support these costs and this would be paid directly to Treasury. With regard to plant health, there is no provision in European Union regulations for compensation. Should the Scottish Government decide to compensate for statutory action to protect plant health then it would be required to fund this.

Agriculture

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-4833 by Richard Lochhead on 24 October 2007, what specific steps it had taken prior to October 2007 to secure EU state aid approval in order to exercise its discretion to make direct payments to farmers and crofters or to fund government agencies, non-departmental public bodies or non-governmental organisations to enable them to make payments to farmers and crofters, for positive environmental management on their holdings; when the first approach to secure EU state aid approval was made; to whom it was made, and what response was received.

Richard Lochhead: EU consideration of the Scotland Rural Development Programme will include consideration of the compliance of measures within the programme with state aid requirements.

Agriculture

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what benefits it considers would arise from changing the historic decoupled basis for Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments to one that relates more closely to current agricultural activity in retaining people on the land and the management of land and habitats.

Richard Lochhead: The objective of our Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) payments is to compensate land managers in less favoured areas for the particular disadvantages that they face, and thereby sustain farming and crofting in these areas, recognising the associated economic, social and environmental benefits that are dependent on continued land management of these areas. Accordingly, LFASS payments are only made in respect of land that is actively farmed. Any change to LFASS must be consistent with the principle of decoupling, which means that it is not possible to create a link between current agricultural production levels and support payments.

Bridges

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice was sought prior to deciding not to consult the public on the Abolition of Bridge Tolls (Scotland) Bill.

Stewart Stevenson: The issue of consultation was considered. However, the Scottish Government considered that the abolition of the bridge tolls was a clear manifesto commitment; had been debated in Parliament on several occasions; had been discussed widely in previous consultation, and the views of a wide range of stakeholders had been heard. The Scottish Government concluded that further consultation would not add materially to the extensive data available.

Business

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to supporting the development of business improvement districts after March 2008.

John Swinney: We have provided significant support for the six business improvement district (BID) pilots in both 2006-07 and 2007-08 in the expectation that they will put their proposals successfully to ballot.

  Based on the experience of the BID pilots, the onus is now on local businesses in all parts of Scotland, in partnership with their council and other local partners, to decide whether or not to develop new BID proposals if they think that doing so would benefit their area, taking advantage of the legislative framework that is now in place.

Cancer

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what views it has on the specific recommendations of Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.

Shona Robison: The recommendations of the World Cancer Research Fund report are in keeping with current advice from the Scottish Government, Food Standards Agency Scotland and NHS Health Scotland on healthy eating, healthy weight and physical activity. This advice is designed to promote the maintenance of overall health, and prevention of a range of chronic diseases, including cancer.

Cancer

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to alter its nutritional guidelines in relation to meals and snacks provided in schools and hospitals following the recommendations contained in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.

Shona Robison: No. Current draft guidance on food and fluid provision in hospitals and standards and guidance on meals and snacks in schools are broadly in line with the World Cancer Research Fund recommendations.

Cancer

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the link between weight gain and obesity and an increased risk of developing cancer, highlighted in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s physical activity strategy "Let’s Make Scotland more Active" and the Scottish Diet Action Plan both recognise that weight gain beyond the healthy BMI range increases the risk of certain cancers.

Cancer

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the link between physical activity and a reduced risk of people developing bowel and breast cancer, highlighted in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government’s physical activity strategy Let’s Make Scotland more Active, published in 2003, recognises that physical activity can be protective against certain cancers, in line with the recommendations of the World Cancer Research Fund report. Our strategy makes recommendations for the minimum levels of physical activity required to reduce the risk of these cancers and other diseases, and sets targets and a strategic framework to support the majority of the population achieving these levels by 2022.

Census

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a question on the Scots language will be included in the 2011 census in Scotland, in the same way that a question on the Gaelic language is asked.

Jim Mather: The General Register Office for Scotland (which is responsible for the Scottish census) included a question about the Scots language in a census test last spring but a final decision has not been taken. Under current plans, a formal proposal on the topics to be included in the 2011 census will be presented to Parliament in autumn 2008 and Parliament’s final approval to the census questions will be sought early in 2010.

Central Heating Programme

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Glasgow Housing Association has spent under the central heating programme.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Glasgow Housing Association spent its full allocation of £20.63 million by March 2007. Nine thousand, one hundred and ninety central heating systems were installed in total with this expenditure.

Central Heating Programme

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what it regards as an acceptable waiting period for those eligible to receive central heating under the central heating programme.

Stewart Maxwell: The primary purpose of the central heating programme is to help owners in fuel poverty by improving the energy efficiency of their houses. The programme deals with demand for support according to the resources and installation capacity available and the waiting period depends on the balance between these factors. The average waiting period has varied between eight and five months since the programme began in 2001 and is now between five and six months. Waiting times vary around this average and as announced on 21 November 2007 we are taking action to accelerate installations this winter for applicants who are eligible for an installation and in the meantime have no heating and hot water. At the same time we are reviewing the policy for the longer term in order to best achieve its purpose while avoiding large waiting lists.

Central Heating Programme

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how its recent budget announcement will impact on waiting times for the central heating programme.

Stewart Maxwell: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing, Nicola Sturgeon, announced on 21 November 2007 that we are making £7 million available this financial year to accelerate up to 1,600 installations. If the rate of new applications continues at current levels, accelerating installations will reduce the average time applicants would otherwise have to wait this winter and ease the pressure on the programme next year. The budget for future years announced on 14 November 2007 includes continued funding for fuel poverty at the current level, against the background of a tight overall settlement.

Child Care

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what allowances will be paid to kinship carers who are legal guardians of children.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what allowances will be paid to kinship carers who have taken on the care of a child prior to local authority involvement.

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what allowances will be paid to kinship carers of children who have been orphaned and have not come under local authority care.

Adam Ingram: Local authorities have discretionary powers to make payments to kinship carers of children who are not looked after. These are:

  1. Section 22 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995

  2. Section 50 of the Children Act 1975.

  In addition, when a child becomes orphaned, the kinship carer of the child can apply for a Guardian’s Allowance paid for by the Department of Work and Pensions.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance will be given to local authorities setting out aspirations for class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3.

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when guidance will be issued to local authorities on class sizes in primary 1 to primary 3.

Adam Ingram: The concordat agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local authorities on 14 November 2007 sets out the current way forward on how we will work with councils to reduce class sizes as quickly as possible as part of our approach to early years intervention and the delivery of our class size manifesto commitments. The concordat states:

  "Improving the learning experience for children and young people by improving the fabric of schools and nurseries; developing and delivering A Curriculum for Excellence, and, as quickly as is possible, reducing class sizes in P1 to P3 to a maximum of 18 and improving early years provision with access to a teacher for every pre-school child. The provision of additional capital allocation and specific arrangements for local authorities to maintain teacher numbers in the face of falling school rolls will allow significant progress on this policy over the Spending Review period. Taking into account retirals, the capacity of the universities to train new teachers, changing demographic trends, and the different circumstances across authorities including accommodation pressures, it is recognised that the pace of implementation of class size reduction will vary across authorities depending on local circumstances and needs. Local government will be expected to show year on year progress toward delivery of the class size reduction policy."

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the maximum permitted class size will be in primary 1 to primary 3 once flexibility is introduced in respect of class sizes of 18.

Adam Ingram: The concordat agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 14 November 2007 sets out the current way forward on how we will work with councils to reduce class sizes as quickly as possible as part of our approach to early years intervention. We will work with local authorities to develop the most appropriate flexibilities in respect of our manifesto class size commitments.

Class Sizes

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether, in allowing flexibility in respect of primary 1 to primary 3 class sizes, the size average for primary 1 to primary 3 will be no more than 18 in each primary school.

Adam Ingram: The concordat agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities on 14 November 2007 sets out the current way forward on how we will work with councils to reduce class sizes as quickly as possible as part of our approach to early years intervention and the delivery of our class size manifesto commitments.

Class Sizes

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in East Ayrshire where primary 1 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in South Ayrshire where primary 1 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in East Ayrshire where primary 2 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in South Ayrshire where primary 2 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in East Ayrshire where primary 3 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in South Ayrshire where primary 3 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in West Dunbartonshire where primary 1 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in Argyll and Bute where primary 1 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in West Dunbartonshire where primary 2 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in Argyll and Bute where primary 2 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in West Dunbartonshire where primary 3 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the schools in Argyll and Bute where primary 3 pupils are in classes of 18 or under.

Adam Ingram: Information on individual class sizes from the 2006 pupil census (the latest figures available) is published on the internet and can be found at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/16412/PrimClassSizesSep06 .

Class Sizes

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that small schools are compatible with modern teaching methods, including the use of self assessment and peer assessment.

Maureen Watt: Curriculum for Excellence aims to provide teachers with the flexibility to adopt new approaches to learning and teaching and its values, purposes and principles are not dependent on structures. Likewise, we believe that good learning and teaching practices such as self and peer assessment are beneficial to all children, irrespective of school size or type.

Class Sizes

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects children in primary 1 to primary 3 in West Lothian schools to be taught in classes of 18 or less.

Adam Ingram: The Concordat between the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities sets out how we will work with councils, including West Lothian, to reduce class sizes as quickly as possible as part of our approach to early years intervention.

Class Sizes

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional funding will be made available to West Lothian Council to deliver class sizes of 18 or less in primary 1 to primary 3.

Adam Ingram: There are substantial additional resources to help local authorities lower class sizes. On 20 June we announced the provision of an additional £9 million additional funding to employ 300 additional teachers in pre-school and in primary 1 to 3 in deprived areas. West Lothian Council’s share of this funding is £311,400. In addition, on 10 July 2007 we announced the allocation of an additional £40 million of capital grant funding through the Schools Fund linked to the buildings implications of reducing class sizes. West Lothian Council’s share was £2.329 million.

  Following the announcement on 14 November 2007 about the Scottish Budget, there is an extra £115 million being invested in local government for the first year of the Spending Review period which can be invested in schools.

Community Safety

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to pay for community safety partnerships in 2007-08.

Fergus Ewing: For 2007-08, £3.6 million of funding has been allocated to pay for Community Safety Partnerships.

Community Wardens

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to increase the number of community wardens in each of the three years of the draft budget.

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take to increase the number of community wardens.

Fergus Ewing: We have no plans to increase the number of community wardens. For future years, funding for community safety and antisocial behaviour will be included within the overall local government finance settlement. It will be the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their Community Planning Partners, to allocate funding on the basis of their local needs and priorities – taking into account their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

  We will be looking at the role of community wardens and considering their potential future use as part of the current review of antisocial behaviour.

Consumer Protection

Hugh O'Donnell (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Consumer Council, energywatch and Postwatch in advance of the changes to consumer representation set out in the Consumers, Estate Agents and Redress Act 2007.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Executive discussed with the Scottish Consumer Council and energywatch the views these bodies had on the proposed changes to consumer representation. It had no specific discussions with Postwatch on this issue.

Culture

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that cultural entitlements are developed in every part of Scotland.

Linda Fabiani: As I confirmed in my statement to the Parliament on 7 November, having considered carefully the responses to the consultation on the draft culture (Scotland) bill, I am not convinced that the legally based approach of the previous administration in this area is what people want. What people want is high quality cultural provision and opportunities at the local level developed and supported through community engagement. The Scottish Government is fully committed to working with local government and other key partners to deliver that, and our discussions with these partners on the best way forward are on-going. This is consistent with our manifesto commitment on widening access to cultural opportunities through the community planning process. Our approach in this area will be informed by the learning arising from the 13 projects currently taking place throughout Scotland that are helping to find ways of overcoming barriers to participation.

Dentistry

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how the prevention-based school dental service referred to in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 will be implemented throughout Scotland and whether it will include regular dental check-ups and treatment, including orthodontic treatment.

Shona Robison: The school dental service will be a prevention based service offering preventive care and treatment to children beginning in areas of deprivation.

Deprivation

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what criteria will be used to define deprived areas, as referred to in the Scottish budget.

Stewart Maxwell: Area based deprivation has many aspects, but the main Scotland-wide measure of area deprivation is the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Domestic Abuse

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the estimated annual cost to society is of domestic violence.

Stewart Maxwell: This information is not available.

Drug Misuse

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total annual expenditure on drug treatment and rehabilitation is across all departments for each year of the current spending review and what the comparable figures were for each of the last three years.

Fergus Ewing: The following table sets out funding that was made available to health boards for drug treatment and rehabilitation services over that last six years.

  (£000)

  

 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 16,900
 16,900
 19,700
 23,700
 23,700
 23,700



  There was also expenditure on drugs from the local government budget. The following table sets out how much was spent by local authorities on community care services for people with drug and/or alcohol problems. These are figures for gross expenditure.

  (£000)

  

 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 30,298
 34,572
 34,577
 37,299
 42,348
 Not available



  The following table sets out funding made available for drug treatment and rehabilitation of offenders, including Drug Treatment Testing Orders.

  (£000)

  

2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07
2007-08


3,643
4,866
7,573
9,615
10,531
14,088



  In addition to the above, resources for tackling drug misuse are provided through a number of other budgets. In particular, many health boards use resources from their unified budget to supplement funds provided through the drug misuse budget; the police use some of their resources towards tackling drug misuse, and further resources, such as those from the budget allocated to dealing with blood borne viruses, are used to deal with the types of problems associated with drug misuse.

Drug and Alcohol Misuse

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many general medical practitioners are serving on alcohol and drugs action teams.

Shona Robison: The alcohol and drug action team corporate action plans (CAPs) contain information on membership. Based on information in the 2007-08 CAPs, there are two general medical practitioners on alcohol and drug action teams. The CAPS can be accessed at: http://www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/dat/cap/dat.htm .

Economy

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what gross domestic product was in (a) 1975, (b) 1985, (c) 1995 and (d) 2005 and what comparative information it has for each other country listed in figure B2 of The Government Economic Strategy.

John Swinney: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) data for Scotland and the UK, are presented in table 1. GDP data for the other countries listed in figure B2 of the Government Economic Strategy (GES) are shown in table 2.

  Table 1: GDP2 for Scotland and UK, £, Millions, Current Prices

  

 
 1975
 1985
 1995
 2005


 Scotland 
 n/a
£25,223 million1
£55,498 million
£86,324 million


 UK
£99,266 million
£320,463 million
£640,416 million
£1086,859 million



  Source ONS

  Notes:

  1. Data for Scotland in 1985 is Total GDP at Factor cost (£million, current prices), ONS; Rest of the data is total GVA at current basic prices (£ million), ONS.

  2. GVA is equal to GDP at basic prices.

  Table 2: GDP for Selected Countries, US $, Constant Prices, Constant PPPs, OECD Base Year, Millions

  

 Country
 1975
 1985
 1995
 2005


 Ireland 
 $30,847 million
 $43,714 million
 $69,000 million
 $141,251 million


 Iceland
 $3,585 million
 $5,447 million
 $6,452 million
 $10,079 million


 Norway
 $71,399 million
 $104,969 million
 $137,160 million
 $183,292 million


 Finland
 $71,100 million
 $94,335 million
 $107,007 million
 $153,110 million


 Denmark
 $84,705 million
 $110,996 million
 $133,654 million
 $164,472 million



  Source: OECD.

Economy

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its view is on promoting a "we buy Scottish" campaign to support Scottish produce.

Richard Lochhead: We welcome any effective campaign that promotes the consumption of fresh, high quality local produce.

Education

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many teachers with a qualification in English as an additional language were teaching in schools in September 2007.

Adam Ingram: The number of English as an additional language teachers teaching in schools in 2007 is collected through the annual teacher census which will be published in March 2008.

Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on its strategic overview of energy policy.

Jim Mather: We plan to place this overview on the Scottish Government website within the next two months.

Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has commissioned any individuals or organisations to work on proposals for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets elsewhere in Europe and, if so, at what cost.

Jim Mather: In June, we commissioned a consortium led by WSP Environmental to undertake a pre-scoping study of the requirements for offshore electricity grid connection between Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eire.

  The study cost around £21,810 which was fully covered by the EU Interreg Cross Border Programme.

Energy

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to increase local power generation to reduce the need for high voltage overhead transmission lines.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is committed to increasing local power generation and in the recent Scottish Spending Review announced it would triple funding for community renewables and microgeneration projects.

  We also published planning policy guidance on renewable energy developments (SPPG 6) earlier this year which includes the expectation that all developments with a total cumulative floor space of 500m2 or more should incorporate on-site zero and low carbon equipment.

  Consideration is currently being given to extending permitted development rights so that more microgeneration equipment can be installed on existing buildings without the need to apply for planning permission. We intend to issue a consultation paper in January.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Development International will remain a joint venture between the enterprise agencies and the Executive.

Jim Mather: Scottish Development International will remain a joint venture between the Scottish Government and the enterprise agencies.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the position of Chief Executive of Scottish Development International will be filled and what form the recruitment process will take.

Jim Mather: Following the recent reforms and restructuring in the enterprise network, we will shortly be advertising the post of Chief Executive of SDI. It will be a competition that is open to members of the Civil Service and to staff of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Enterprise

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what amount of the proposed (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise budget shown on page 52 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 will be spent on the restructuring of the enterprise network broken down by year.

Jim Mather: There will be some costs associated with the implementation of the reforms. The amount of those costs has not yet been determined but every effort will be made to minimise them.

Enterprise

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what savings will be released as a result of the restructuring of the enterprise network for each year covered in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, broken down into those savings arising to (a) Scottish Enterprise and (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Jim Mather: There will be savings achieved through more coherent and focused activity but it is not yet possible to quantify these.

Environment

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has estimated the impact on carbon emissions in each year to 2010-11 of its transport programme set out in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007 sets out our Transport investment plans including our commitment to invest in public transport, providing £840 million/£917 million/£897 million on rail and tram services and projects in Scotland, £3 million a year on travel information, £57.2 million a year to support bus services and £11 million a year on direct support for sustainable and active travel. This, along with support to local authorities will support sustainable places by reducing car dependency and increasing the proportion of people walking and cycling.

  We have not estimated the impact on carbon emissions of our full transport programme in each year to 2010-11 because the detailed programme has not been finalised, there are difficult methodological issues in making calculations, and some of the programme is demand-led, thus the full impacts cannot be known. However, estimates are being made for some elements of the programme where this is technically feasible. In the longer term, the government is developing a transport carbon balance sheet which will contribute to this process.

Environment

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what existing measures will result in carbon savings by 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: Existing measures expected to result in carbon savings by 2011 build on the devolved policy measures detailed in Annex E of Scotland’s Climate Change Programme, a copy of which is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 39288). The outcome of the Spending Review strengthens the package of existing measures available to deliver carbon savings.

Environment

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what new measures announced in the Scottish spending review on 14 November 2007 will result in carbon savings by 2011.

Stewart Stevenson: Our spending review ensures that public spending across portfolios contributes to the action needed to help mitigate climate change so that we meet the measurable statutory targets to be set through a Scottish Climate Change Bill.

  There are a number of specific measures that are expected to produce carbon savings by 2011 including our commitment to a Zero Waste fund that will support a number of measures such as waste prevention, community sector recycling, waste awareness and provision of advice and support for local authority recycling initiatives, and the significant additional funding for community renewables and microgeneration. More generally, our commitment to introduce carbon impact assessments for policy options will enable identification and quantification of specific carbon savings, and timescales, from a range of Scottish Government policies.

Europe

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with stakeholders to obtain their views on improving the effectiveness of the transposition process of EU directives into Scottish law.

Linda Fabiani: To date, we have not had discussions with stakeholders. However, we intend to consult fully with them on our proposals for reforming the transposition process, something which is high on our list of priorities and one of our manifesto commitments. We have already done some work on improving our processes and are giving consideration to further reforms which I hope to bring forward next year.

  I am aware that the European and External Relations Committee has been conducting an inquiry into the transposition of EU directives. I believe this will be very helpful to us and look forward to taking the inquiry’s findings on board as part of our wider reforms of the system.

Europe

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions the Minister for Europe, External Affairs and Culture has had with the institutions of the European Union, particularly in relation to Choosing Scotland’s Future: A National Conversation.

Linda Fabiani: In raising Scotland’s voice in Europe, it is important that the Government engages regularly with the EU institutions. Officials do this daily but as Minister for Europe I am also building strong constructive relations with the key EU Institutions.

  I have already had the pleasure of meeting EU Commissioner for Education, Jan Figel, when he visited Edinburgh in July as well as enjoying meetings with the Commission during my visit to Brussels in July.

  I have met with all seven of our Scottish MEPs since taking up this post and I am intending to pay a visit to the European Parliament next year to meet with other influential MEPs.

  As for our friends in the other member states I have had meetings with a host of ministers, ambassadors and consul-generals where both EU and more general policy issues were discussed.

  In terms of discussions on Choosing Scotland’s Future: A National Conversation, I haven’t as yet been directly involved in discussing this particular issue with the EU Institutions. However the "national conversation" will play an important role in the European Strategy consultation that I will be undertaking next year. Obviously this would then be the ideal timing to discuss this with the EU Institutions.

Families

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much ring-fenced funding was allocated to local authorities for the Working for Families Programme in 2007-08.

Stewart Maxwell: In 2007-08, £15 million was allocated to 20 local authorities as part of the local government settlement for spend on the Working for Families programme.

Family Mediation

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to ensure that organisations such as Family Mediation Scotland continue to receive the resources they need to provide support to families experiencing family break-up.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring the stability of the family support sector. Family Mediation Scotland, as well as thirteen local Family Mediation Services, will continue to receive funding through the Unified Voluntary Sector Fund, at levels significantly higher than in past years, until 2010.

Finance

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much in cash releasing savings will be required in each directorate to achieve the efficiency target stated in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

John Swinney: Efficiency is core to the delivery of our ambitious programme for the public service in Scotland and the Scottish Government expects all of the public sector to play its part. Targets are being set at portfolio level, and each portfolio will produce Efficiency Delivery Plans setting out how it will deliver its efficiencies. The plans will be published by the end of March 2008 and will be made available on the internet.

Fireworks

Cathy Peattie (Falkirk East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have been charged with fireworks offences in each of the last five years and, of these, how many have been (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted, specifying whether the charges involved (i) illegal purchase, (ii) illegal use or (iii) use as a weapon likely to cause human harm, broken down by police force area.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is given in the following table. Information in relation to other offences which involved the use of fireworks as a weapon is not identifiable within the available statistics. Statistics on persons charged by the police are not collected centrally.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Fireworks Offences1, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Central
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 1
 -
 1
 -


 Fife 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Grampian 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 1
 2
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 2
 2


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 1
 1
 -
 -


 Northern 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Strathclyde 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 1
 -
 3
 3
 4


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 3
 5


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 1
 3
 17
 5
 4


 Tayside 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 -
 5
 2
 1


 Scotland
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 1
 -
 5
 3
 4


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 8
 11


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 1
 6
 25
 8
 5



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Offences under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997.

  3. Offences under the Fireworks Regulations 2003 and the Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

  4. Offences under the Explosives Act 1875.

  Persons with a Charge Proved for Fireworks Offences1, 2001-02 to 2005-06

  

 Police Force
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Central
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Dumfries and Galloway
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 1
 -
 1
 -


 Fife 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Grampian 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 1
 -


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 1
 2
 -
 -


 Lothian and Borders 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 2
 2


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 1
 1
 -
 -


 Northern 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 1
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 1
 1


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Strathclyde 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 1
 -
 3
 2
 3


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 3
 5


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 1
 3
 14
 4
 4


 Tayside 
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 -


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 -
 3


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 -
 -
 4
 2
 1


 Scotland
 
 
 
 
 


 Sale of fireworks to under 18s2 
 1
 -
 5
 2
 3


 Illegal use of fireworks3 
 -
 -
 -
 8
 11


 Throwing fireworks in thoroughfare4
 1
 6
 21
 7
 5



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Offences under the Fireworks (Safety) Regulations 1997.

  3. Offences under the Fireworks Regulations 2003 and the Fireworks (Scotland) Regulations 2004.

  4. Offences under the Explosives Act 1875.

Flood Prevention

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will increase the current levels of expenditure on flood management and protection over the next three years.

Michael Russell: As agreed in the joint Concordat, the support for Flood Prevention and Coast Protection is one of the grants which is being rolled up as part of the Local Government Settlement. The total package of funding for local government, as published in the Spending Review 2007 is £34,730 million across the period 2008-11 which is a increase of 12.6% across the period. Further details of the Local Government Settlement will be presented to Parliament mid-December.

  We will continue to work in partnership with local government partners to drive forward our priorities. For future years, funding which is included within the overall local government finance settlement is the responsibility of each local authority, in conjunction with their Community Planning Partners, to allocate on the basis of their local needs and priorities - taking into account their statutory obligations and the jointly agreed set of national and local priorities, including the Scottish Government’s key strategic objectives and manifesto commitments.

Flood Prevention

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will specifically monitor the impact of removing ring-fencing on flood investment.

Michael Russell: As agreed in the Concordat, there will be a move towards a Single Outcomes Agreement with each local authority. This will be based on the agreed set of national outcomes (underpinned by agreed national indicators), and local outcomes to take account of local priorities. Each local authority will be required to submit a single report setting out their progress and achievements towards the agreed national outcomes. The exact allocation of monies to each authority for flood defence and coastal protection is under discussion with COSLA.

Flood Prevention

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis allocations to local authorities for flood protection and coastal erosion will be made; whether any other allowance has been made for expenditure on waste management in funding allocated to local authorities, and on what basis any additional funding would be allocated.

Michael Russell: The Spending Review document confirmed that policies and initiatives across all portfolios will take full account of our ambitions for a Greener Scotland, and that we are committed to introduce carbon impact assessments for policy options.

  Measures taken forward under the rural affairs and the environment programme will be consistent with this, and carbon impact assessments will be developed over time. The exact allocation of monies to each authority for flood defence and coastal protection is under discussion with COSLA.

Flood Prevention

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role COSLA will have in deciding how much funding Moray Council will receive for flooding.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government will be discussing with COSLA the principles of their approach to the distribution of funding between authorities.

Football

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to launch a feasibility study into the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is keen to explore the feasibility of making a bid to host the 2016 European football championships and are in discussion with the Scottish Football Association as to how best to take this forward.

Football

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any feasibility study into the possibility of Scotland bidding for the 2016 European football championships will consider only the possibility of a solo Scottish bid or whether potential joint bids will also be considered.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is keen to explore the feasibility of making a bid to host the 2016 European football championships and are in discussion with the Scottish Football Association as to how best to take this forward.

Gaelic

Ted Brocklebank (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for introduction of the Gaelic digital channel.

Linda Fabiani: The Gaelic Media Service and BBC are optimistic that the new channel will launch by the end of March 2008. This is, of course, dependent on the BBC Trust approving the Public Value Test for the channel.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what framework the Task Force on Health Inequalities is using to measure inequality.

Shona Robison: The Task Force is examining health inequalities based on both individual and area-based measures.

  A background paper has been published on: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/inequalitiestaskforce.

Health

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what view the Task Group on Inequality has on how to ensure that deprived communities receive enhanced services compared with other areas.

Shona Robison: The Ministerial Task Force on Health Inequalities will set out in due course the principles on which it is basing its work and will report to Cabinet in May 2008.

Historic Buildings

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there is urgency attached to protecting the colliery buildings at the former Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government congratulates the Scottish Mining Museum on achieving recognition under the Museums Recognition Scheme and we will now consider, with Scottish Museums Council and the museum, the case for affordable capital investment in the museum as part of ministers’ consideration of the capital plans for culture.

Historic Buildings

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the international importance of the colliery buildings at the former Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Government is funding Scottish Museums Council to deliver the Museums Recognition Scheme and Fund which recognises collections of national significance. The government congratulates the Mining Museum on being awarded recognised status. International significance is a factor taking into account by the independent Recognition Committee in awarding recognised status. In addition, Historic Scotland, on behalf of Scottish ministers, has graded the core colliery site at Category A, denoting national or international significance.

Historic Buildings

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the condition is of the colliery buildings at the former Lady Victoria Colliery in Newtongrange.

Linda Fabiani: The Scottish Mining Museum commissioned a Buildings Report in 2005, funded by Historic Scotland, which surveyed the buildings. The museum also launched a Strategic Development Plan in 2007, including capital programmes, to develop the museum until 2011. The Scottish Government congratulates the Scottish Mining Museum on achieving recognition under the Museums Recognition Scheme and we will now consider, with Scottish Museums Council and the museum, the case for affordable capital investment in the museum as part of ministers’ consideration of the capital plans for culture.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial incentives or support are available for registered social landlords to acquire and develop derelict buildings and bring them back into use for housing.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows.

  Communities Scotland provides housing association grant (HAG) to registered social landlords to provide affordable housing for rent. This includes projects where buildings are acquired and refurbished for use as housing.

  In 2005-06, 353 refurbished units were approved for rent, with a total of £17.15 million provided by HAG. In 2006-07, this figure increased to 408 refurbished units approved for rent, with a total of £20.036 million from HAG. Figures are not yet available for 2007-08, but based on previous years’ figures, it can be projected that approximately 450 units will be approved for refurbishment in the current financial year.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider introducing incentives or support for registered social landlords to acquire and develop derelict buildings and bring them back into use for housing.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows.

  Communities Scotland already provides housing association grant (HAG) to Registered Social Landlords to allow them to provide affordable housing for rent. This includes projects where buildings are acquired and refurbished for use as housing.

  In 2005-06, 353 refurbished units were approved for rent, with a total of £17.15 million provided by HAG. In 2006-07, this figure increased to 408 refurbished units approved for rent, with a total of £20.036 million from HAG. Figures are not yet available for 2007-08, but based on previous years’ figures, it can be projected that approximately 450 units will be approved for refurbishment in the current financial year.

Housing

Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much has been allocated to Glasgow Housing Association by Communities Scotland under the central heating programme.

Stewart Maxwell: I have asked James Hynd, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. His response is as follows:

  Under the Central Heating Programme, Glasgow Housing Association was allocated £20.63 million in April 2003.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated for private landlord registration in 2007-08.

Stewart Maxwell: £1.98 million was allocated for landlord registration in 2007-08.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be rolled into the local authority settlement for private landlord registration in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Stewart Maxwell: The 2007-08 baseline figure for landlord registration of £1.98 million has been transferred into the local government finance settlements for 2008-11.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much ring-fenced funding was allocated to local authorities for housing support grant in 2007-08.

Stewart Maxwell: £1.8 million was allocated for Housing Support Grant in 2007-08. Shetland Islands is the only council which remains in receipt of grant.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much ring-fenced funding there will be for local authorities for housing support grant in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Stewart Maxwell: Housing Support Grant is classified as Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) and as such is funded by HM Treasury outside the Scottish Government’s core Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) on the basis of need assessed on an annual basis. £2 million per annum has been assumed for HSG requirements over the period of the Spending Review.

Housing

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much ring-fenced funding there will be for local authorities for hostels grant in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Stewart Maxwell: Hostels grant is classified as Annually Managed Expenditure (AME) and as such is funded by HM Treasury outside the Scottish Government’s core Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) on the basis of need assessed on an annual basis. £6 million per annum has been assumed for hostels grant requirements over the period of the Spending Review.

Information Technology

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering ways in which funding can be made more accessible to continue and strengthen the work being undertaken by projects such as Moose in the Hoose in promoting lifelong learning in the Edinburgh South parliamentary constituency and the rest of Edinburgh by introducing residents of care homes and sheltered housing to the benefits of the computer as a valuable communication tool.

John Swinney: It is for local authorities to determine whether they wish to support Digital Inclusion projects for older people. Previous experience shows that provision of funding nationally for individual projects has not generated sustainable or national solutions. Sharing good practice, skills and resources, are key to avoiding duplication of effort and ensuring resources are focused more effectively on the needs of disadvantaged groups.

Justice

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is considering an outright ban on the use of snares.

Michael Russell: Banning the use of snares was one of the options put forward for consideration in the consultation paper on this issue. I shall shortly bring forward my concerns arising from the consultation.

Justice

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to tackle antisocial behaviour in 2007-08.

Fergus Ewing: For 2007-2008, £33.16 million of funding has been allocated to tackle antisocial behaviour.

Justice

Stuart McMillan (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to legislate to reverse the House of Lords judgment of 17 October 2007 on pleural plaques.

Kenny MacAskill: Yes. Following careful consideration of the 17 October 2007 House of Lords Judgment on pleural plaques and having listened to the views of representatives of asbestos campaign groups and of the insurance industry, the Scottish Government has decided to introduce a bill to reverse the Judgment so that those negligently exposed to asbestos who have been diagnosed with pleural plaques will continue to be able to raise and pursue actions for damages in Scotland. We will prepare a bill which would take effect from the date of the Judgment.

Languages

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reflect the needs of Scots who require alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) provision in its programme for government and, if so, how.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to equality of opportunity for all. Our work on disability equality is inclusive of all conditions and impairments. We are currently funding the Communication Forum Scotland to deliver a project which aims to improve and support civic participation of people with communication support needs in Scotland. A key product of the project will be a toolkit providing practical advice, guidance and resources to policy makers (across all levels of government and all public and other sector agencies) supporting effective engagement with people with communication support needs in Scotland.

  To further consider how the needs of Scots who require alternative and augmentative communication provision can be addressed, the Minister for Public Health has offered to meet with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Less Favoured Areas

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give an assurance that the historic decoupled basis for Less Favoured Area Support Scheme payments is a temporary mechanism and that a payment method more closely linked to agricultural activity will replace it at the first possible opportunity.

Richard Lochhead: The current interim Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS), which is based on historic payment data, is a temporary measure for the period 2007-09. Different EC legislation relating to LFASS will come into force on 1 January 2010, and so a new scheme will be required. My officials are also considering with less favoured area stakeholders the possibility of earlier modifications to the current scheme. Any modification to the scheme must be consistent with the principle of decoupling, which means that it is not possible to create a link between current agricultural production levels and support payments.

Local Government

Duncan McNeil (Greenock and Inverclyde) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will bring forward legislation to modify the structure and operation of community councils.

John Swinney: We are currently developing, through the Community Council Working Group, a Model Community Council Scheme, Good Practice Guidance for both local authorities and community councils and a Code of Conduct for Community Councillors. We are also consulting stakeholders, through the same working group and through a series of meetings with people who have a particular expertise in empowering communities, on the potential for developing the role of community councils.

  We will consider whether there is a case for bringing forward legislation to modify the structure and operation of community councils following the completion of this work.

Local Government

Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to reorganise local government boundaries.

John Swinney: I have already announced that there will be no boundaries reform of local government during this Parliament.

Local Government Finance

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much ring-fenced funding was allocated to local authorities for hostels grant in 2007-08.

Stewart Maxwell: Hostels grant of £5.6 million was allocated to 20 Councils in 2007-08.

Marine Environment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the marine energy sector in Scotland regarding any difficulties in drawing down funding from the Marine Renewables Development Fund.

Jim Mather: Our discussions with the sector on this subject indicate that the Marine Renewables Development Fund (MRDF’s) grant levels are viewed as insufficient and in need of review. There are also calls for the eligibility criteria to be reviewed. We are in touch with the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on these issues.

Marine Environment

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) about improvements to the Marine Renewables Development Fund to enable testing and development of marine technologies in Scotland.

Jim Mather: We are in regular contact with the department on this issue. We have asked specifically for clarity regarding the availability and levels of grant funding for wave and tidal development in the light of BERR’s proposals for a banded Renewables Obligation.

Marine Environment

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what constitutes "eligible forage areas" in relation to sea-girt holdings, such as exist on the eastern shores of the Hebrides.

Richard Lochhead: The term "eligible forage areas" relates primarily to the Less Favoured Area Support Scheme (LFASS) qualifying criteria. LFASS eligible forage must be available throughout the year. Other land may also be claimed provided the land is available and accessible for the applicant’s use for maintaining livestock for seven months (to include 15 May) starting between 1 January and 31 March in the year for which payment is to be made. The land must also be close enough to the permanent holding to make its seasonal use viable.

  Whilst land which is temporarily unavailable (e.g., due to snow or flooding) may still qualify, I understand that sea-girt land is coastal land which is affected by tides and, as such, is submerged for parts of each day. For this reason, it cannot be considered accessible and available for use for maintaining livestock, or classed as eligible forage land in the LFASS context.

Meat Industry

Peter Peacock (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its view is on a ban on the importation of pork that is produced in systems that would not meet Scottish or UK standards.

Richard Lochhead: All member states are required to meet standards of animal welfare governed by European Union Directives. It would be against WTO rules to ban the importation of products that meet European Union standards. We will, however, continue to press for a level playing field.

Mental Health

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much Mental Illness Specific Grant funding has been allocated to each local authority in each of the last five years and how much will be allocated in the next financial year.

Shona Robison: The allocations made by the Scottish Government, to which local authorities also add their own resources, are shown in the following table.

  From April 2008 the Mental Health Specific Grant (formerly Mental Illness Specific Grant) will be absorbed into the main local government settlement. The funding will continue to have an important role in continuing to provide local, community based services and support for people with a mental health problem, their carers and families.

  The provisional allocations for the 2008-09 overall settlement will be confirmed at the time of the Local Government Finance settlement announcement planned for mid-December. However, the intention is that where a previously ring-fenced grant has been absorbed within the settlement, the funding associated with that grant will be distributed between councils in the same way as in 2007-08.

  

 Council
 Allocations in Each Year from 2003-04 to 2007-08 (£)


 Aberdeen City
 708,400


 Aberdeenshire
 578,200


 Angus
 320,600


 Argyll and Bute
 312,200


 Clackmannan
 110,600


 Dumfries and Galloway
 373,800


 Dundee City
 341,600


 East Ayrshire
 320,600


 East Dunbartonshire
 163,800


 East Lothian
 222,600


 East Renfrewshire
 57,400


 Edinburgh City
 1,345,400


 Eilean Siar
 163,800


 Falkirk
 366,800


 Fife
 893,200


 Glasgow City
 2,774,800


 Highland
 597,800


 Inverclyde
 193,200


 Midlothian
 266,000


 Moray
 159,600


 North Ayrshire
 197,400


 North Lanarkshire
 562,800


 Orkney
 133,000


 Perth and Kinross
 271,600


 Renfrewshire
 375,200


 Scottish Borders
 310,800


 Shetland
 165,200


 South Ayrshire
 301,000


 South Lanarkshire
 750,400


 Stirling
 207,200


 West Dunbartonshire
 250,600


 West Lothian
 204,400


 Total
 14,000,000

Ministerial Correspondence

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth will write to me as he promised in response to my question on the ministerial statement on the strategic spending review (Official Report, c. 3339).

John Swinney: I replied to the member on 26 November 2007.

NHS 24

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many more NHS 24 local mini-centres it intends to establish.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government and NHS 24 are committed to providing a local presence in each mainland NHS board area.

  There are currently five local NHS 24 centres which were developed in partnership with local NHS boards in Highland (which also covers the Islands Boards), Ayrshire and Arran, Lanarkshire, Tayside and Dumfries and Galloway and which have been in operation since November 2005.

  Discussions are progressing with NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Fife, NHS Lothian and NHS Grampian about a number of initiatives on the further development of locally integrated services.

NHS 24

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timescale is for the establishment of NHS 24 local mini-centres.

Shona Robison: NHS 24 is working in partnership with area NHS boards to look at opportunities to develop local centres in each mainland board area. Timescales are therefore varied, although it is expected that the centre for NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde will become operational in the first half of 2008 and the centre in Fife will go online in December 2008.

  The centre in NHS Grampian is part of a much larger development project which will take longer, but closer integrated working is already taking place within the current contact centre based in Aberdeen. The work with NHS Lothian is at a very early stage with the first project board meeting to discuss options due to take place in December 2007.

NHS Funding

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why its budget for mental health legislation and services remains at £21.1 million until 2011.

Shona Robison: The focus for Spending Review 2007 has been on improvements and enhancements to front line services. The Mental Health Legislation and Services Budget outcome has secured continued funding at appropriate levels for the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland; the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland; the Leadership and other initiatives that underpin and help advance delivery of the 17 published targets and commitments for mental health in Scotland (Bib. number: 41410), and allows for adjustments within the overall allocation to maintain a focus on local service improvement and implementation.

Nutrition

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on the link between eating red meats and an increased risk of people developing bowel cancer, highlighted in Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer, published by the World Cancer Research Fund.

Shona Robison: The World Cancer Research Fund advice on meat goes further than current Food Standards Agency advice and the agency is aware of the evidence on the relationship between meat consumption and cancer. The potential impact of a recommendation to consumers to reduce meat consumption is being considered by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) as part of a review of iron and health which is due to be made available for public comment in 2008.

Oil and Gas Industry

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, for every $1 increase in the price of oil above $60, or the price that had been assumed in the UK budget, what information it has on approximately how much of that $1 goes to HM Treasury.

John Swinney: The collection of North Sea Oil and Gas tax revenues is a matter reserved to the UK Government. The Scottish Executive does not have access to the detailed information requested.

  However, as this question is of particular relevance to the consultation on the powers of the Parliament, I intend to write to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on this matter.

People with Dementia

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to prioritise improvement in the diagnosis, care and treatment of dementia sufferers, as referred to in Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

Shona Robison: Dementia is a priority for the Scottish Government.

  I have established a Dementia Forum to provide input and advice on all aspects of the dementia agenda. The forum has contributed to the consideration underway on the development of a dementia based HEAT target for NHS Scotland to drive further change, particularly to reduce undiagnosed dementia.

  GPs are already paid for maintaining a register of those with dementia and for undertaking an assessment of their mental and physical health needs. A new standard for an integrated care pathway for dementia will be published next month which among other key aspects will highlight the need to help both the person with dementia and their carer. A lead clinician has been appointed in each area to take forward the implementation of this and other standards.

  The needs of those with dementia and their carers are also being considered in the current review of NHS Continuing Care which reports early next year. We are also considering what aspects of health improvement and awareness raising are needed for the dementia interest and will be involving stakeholder organisations including Alzheimer Scotland, Help the Aged and Age Concern in this attention.

  The Scottish Government Chief Scientist Office is currently funding three research projects on dementia and we have provided over £1 million this year to local authorities to support local dementia projects across Scotland through our Mental Health Specific Grant scheme. Funding is also provided to the Dementia Services Development Centre and to Alzheimer Scotland for events and materials that advance understanding and better responses for those with dementia and their carers.

People with Disabilities

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what information is held centrally on provision for people with disabilities.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government gathers information through a range of methods including national surveys such as the Scottish Household Survey and specific research projects.

  Our arrangements for gathering information on disability equality were set out in our disability equality scheme, published in December 2006 and available at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/03/19133143/0.

  We will publish our first annual report on the disability equality scheme on 4 December 2007 and this will include an update of action taken to gather information across a range of policy areas.

Pre-School Education

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to improve pre-school education.

Adam Ingram: Improving pre-school education is a key priority for the Scottish Government. We have already increased entitlement from 412.5 to 475 hours and will increase entitlement further to 570 hours from August 2010. We are working with partners to provide access to a teacher for all children in pre-school education and will continue the development of A Curriculum for Excellence.

Pre-School Education

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many local authorities provide funding for early years education from (a) the day of a child’s third birthday and (b) the start of term following a child’s third birthday.

Adam Ingram: The date at which children become eligible for free pre-school education is set out in the Provision of School Education for Children under School Age (Prescribed Children)(Scotland) Order 2002.

  Children become eligible for pre-school education at the following times:

  Where a child’s third birthday falls on or between 1 March and 31 August, the child becomes eligible for pre-school education from the autumn term following that birthday. The autumn term is the term which generally begins in August.

  Where a child’s third birthday falls on or between 1 September and 31 December, the child becomes eligible for pre-school education from the spring term following that birthday. The spring term is the term which generally begins in January.

  Where a child’s third birthday falls on or between 1 January and the last day of February, the child becomes eligible for pre-school education from the summer term following that birthday. The summer term is the term which generally begins in April.

  Local authorities have a duty to provide pre-school education from the dates specified in the Order. Any pre-school education provided before the dates specified in the Order is at the discretion of the local authority. Data is not held centrally on discretionary provision.

Pre-School Education

David Whitton (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to further increase the provision of free early years education for three and four-year-old children.

Adam Ingram: As announced on 14 November 2007, the hours of pre-school education will increase to 570 per year from August 2010.

  The government is considering options for achieving the final step towards our commitment to a 50% increase in entitlement during 2011.

Prescription Charges

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in (a) Central Scotland parliamentary region, (b) each parliamentary constituency in Central Scotland parliamentary region, (c) Lanarkshire NHS board area and (d) Forth Valley NHS board area will benefit from the proposal to scrap prescription charges, as outlined in the Scottish Budget Spending Review 2007.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Government is committed to abolishing prescription charges for all in Scotland within the lifetime of this Parliament, and we are currently examining in detail how best to deliver that commitment. Our proposals will benefit the 50% of the population of Scotland who currently pay for their prescriptions, two thirds of whom are estimated to have a chronic condition.

  We will make an announcement to Parliament in due course.

Prescription Charges

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the Dumbarton parliamentary constituency will benefit from proposals to abolish prescription charges.

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the Clydebank and Milngavie parliamentary constituency will benefit from proposals to abolish prescription charges.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Government is committed to abolishing prescription charges for all in Scotland within the lifetime of this Parliament, and we are currently examining in detail how best to deliver that commitment. Our proposals will benefit the 50% of the population of Scotland who currently pay for their prescriptions, two thirds of whom are estimated to have a chronic condition.

  We will make an announcement to Parliament in due course.

Prescription Charges

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in the Strathkelvin and Bearsden parliamentary constituency will benefit from proposals to abolish prescription charges.

Shona Robison: This information is not held centrally.

  The Scottish Government is committed to abolishing prescription charges for all in Scotland within the lifetime of this Parliament, and we are currently examining in detail how best to deliver that commitment. Our proposals will benefit the 50% of the population of Scotland who currently pay for their prescriptions, two thirds of whom are estimated to have a chronic condition.

  We will make an announcement to Parliament in due course.

Prison Service

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average daily prison population has been in each year since 1960.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The average daily prison population for each year since 1960 is given in the following table.

  

 Year
 Prison Population
 Year
 Prison Population


 1960
 2,821
 1984
 4,753


 1961
 2,997
 1985
 5,273


 1962
 3,238
 1986
 5,587


 1963
 3,504
 1987
 5,446


 1964
 3,250
 1988
 5,229


 1965
 3,381
 1989
 4,986


 1966
 3,858
 1990
 4,724


 1967
 4,238
 1991
 4,839


 1968
 4,541
 1992
 5,257


 1969
 4,834
 1993
 5,637


 1970
 5,003
 1994
 5,585


 1971
 5,338
 1995
 5,626


 1972
 5,220
 1996-97
 5,993


 1973
 4,810
 1997-98
 6,059


 1974
 4,689
 1998-99
 6,029


 1975
 4,951
 1999-2000
 5,975


 1976
 4,884
 2000-01
 5,883


 1977
 4,871
 2001-02
 6,186


 1978
 5,062
 2002-03
 6,475


 1979
 4,585
 2003-04
 6,621


 1980
 4,860
 2004-05
 6,779


 1981
 4,518
 2005-06
 6,857


 1982
 4,891
 2006-07
 7,183


 1983
 5,052

Prison Service

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of the prison population is from each of the top 10 postcode areas where prisoners are from and what percentage of the total population is resident in each of these postcode areas.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  Unfortunately, we do not currently hold information on the prison population in the form that has been requested. The information that is currently available is the prison population at local authority level. The following table gives the population of prisoners in custody on 30 June 2006 by the local authority of their home address, for the local authorities which have the 10 highest percentages of the total prison population. Also given is the percentage of the total population of Scotland in each of these local authorities.

  

 Local Authority
 Prison Population
 Percentage of Prison Population
 Total Population
 Percentage of Total Population


 Glasgow City
 1,569
 21.8
 580,690
 11.3


 Edinburgh, City of
 600
 8.3
 463,510
 9.1


 North Lanarkshire
 455
 6.3
 323,780
 6.3


 Fife
 384
 5.3
 358,930
 7.0


 Dundee City
 380
 5.3
 142,170
 2.8


 South Lanarkshire
 371
 5.1
 307,670
 6.0


 Aberdeen City
 272
 3.8
 206,880
 4.0


 Renfrewshire
 253
 3.5
 169,590
 3.3


 North Ayrshire
 233
 3.2
 135,490
 2.6


 East Ayrshire
 177
 2.5
 119,290
 2.3


 Scotland
 7,205
 
 5,116,900

Prison Service

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners served custodial sentences for non-payment of fines in each of the last 15 years, shown also as a percentage of the prison population, and what comparable information it has for (a) the rest of the United Kingdom, (b) each EU member state and (c) each OECD country.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The available information is provided in the following table:

  Average daily population in custody for fine default by country and calendar year: actual numbers and percentages of the total prison population.

  

 Year
 Scotland1
 England and Wales2
 Northern Ireland


 Number
 % of Total
 Number
 % of Total
 Number
 % of Total


 1992
 n/a
 n/a
 382
 0.8%
 34
 1.9%


 1993
 n/a
 n/a
 546
 1.2%
 32
 1.7%


 1994
 n/a
 n/a
 537
 1.1%
 30
 1.6%


 1995
 n/a
 n/a
 516
 1.0%
 29
 1.6%


 1996
 n/a
 n/a
 141
 0.3%
 24
 1.5%


 1997
 102
 1.7%
 131
 0.2%
 30
 1.8%


 1998
 75
 1.2%
 110
 0.2%
 30
 2.0%


 1999
 59
 1.0%
 99
 0.2%
 33
 2.7%


 2000
 61
 1.0%
 87
 0.1%
 22
 2.1%


 2001
 62
 1.0%
 43
 0.1%
 22
 2.4%


 2002
 61
 1.0%
 34
 0.0%
 17
 1.7%


 2003
 61
 0.9%
 46
 0.1%
 20
 1.7%


 2004
 63
 0.9%
 52
 0.1%
 24
 1.9%


 2005
 56
 0.8%
 78
 0.1%
 25
 1.9%


 2006
 48
 0.7%
 n/a
 n/a
 29
 2.0%



  Notes:

  1. For years before 1997, figures on fine defaulters were not collected separately.

  2. The figures for England and Wales are as at 30 June rather than an annual average.

Regeneration

Margaret Curran (Glasgow Baillieston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Community Regeneration Fund in Glasgow has been spent on health improvement.

Stewart Maxwell: The Glasgow Community Planning Partnership has claimed Community Regeneration Funding totalling £21.5 million for activities directly supporting the creation of healthier communities. This is based on final grant claims for the first two years of the three-year CRF programme, which began in April 2005.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to extend the Wave and Tidal Energy Support Scheme following the final allocation of money in 2008.

Jim Mather: We are monitoring the impact of recent awards and funding and assessing the demand and need for further support, taking into account other support mechanisms which are or will be available. Decisions about further grant funding will be taken in the light of this over the coming months.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made on the development of a renewable heat strategy.

Jim Mather: The Forum of Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (FREDS) established a Renewable Heat Sub Group in November 2006, to make recommendations to government on the key components of a Renewable Heat Strategy. Good progress has been made. The group has met on four occasions and will publish its report early in the new year. This will inform the government’s approach to renewable heat.

Renewable Energy

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution Scotland will make to the EU target for 20% of all energy to come from renewable sources by 2020.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has expressed its full support for the EU’s renewable energy target and will ensure that Scotland makes a significant contribution towards achieving it.

  For example, we have announced our target to generate 50% of Scotland’s electricity demand from renewable sources by 2020 and are currently working with stakeholders towards a strategy for the promotion of renewable heat.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets elsewhere in Europe.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is involved in two studies looking at the potential for future offshore renewables generation to connect to other regions in Europe. These studies will explore potential sub-sea transmission links with Ireland and northern Europe, respectively.

  It is hoped that this will lead to further work which will help make the business case for future commercial investment in offshore grid development.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of its staff are working on proposals for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets elsewhere in Europe.

Jim Mather: As part of wider responsibilities, officials in the Renewables Policy team of the Enterprise Energy and Tourism Directorate are involved in studies along with colleagues in Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, SDI and Scotland Europa to explore sub-sea grid options between Scotland and Ireland and possible links between Scotland and northern Europe.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Norwegian Government on proposals for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets in Norway or elsewhere in Europe.

Jim Mather: We are keen to asses the potential for sub-sea grid links between Scotland and Norway and will shortly commission a pre-scoping study exploring these as well as other possible offshore grid links between Scotland and northern Europe.

  The First Minister intends to meet with the Norwegian Government to discuss this early next year.

Renewable Energy

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next meet representatives from OFGEM to discuss proposals for the connection of Scotland’s offshore renewable generation capacity to electricity markets elsewhere in Europe.

Jim Mather: Officials will meet with OFGEM in the near future to discuss these proposals.

Renewable Energy

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the eligibility criteria will be for applications for the (a) Saltire and (b) Horizon prizes outlined on page 53 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

Jim Mather: Full details will be announced to Parliament in due course.

Roads

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of the spending on roads shown on page 52 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 will be on (a) construction of new roads, (b) improvements to existing roads and (c) maintenance of existing roads, broken down by year.

Stewart Stevenson: Section 2 of the Scottish Budget commits to delivering a motorway and trunk road network that supports the economy and the people of Scotland by enabling safe and reliable journeys (£932.6 million/£1,063.7 million/£1,181.4 million). Section 3, page 90 provides a more detailed analysis of spending plans for motorways and trunk roads for the period 2008-11.

Roads

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what roads will be allocated funding from the spending on roads shown on page 52 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 and what the total allocation is for each road where an allocation decision has been taken.

Stewart Stevenson: Section 2 of the Scottish Budget commits to delivering a motorway and trunk road network that supports the economy and the people of Scotland by enabling safe and reliable journeys (£932.6 million/£1,063.7 million/£1,181.4 million). Further elaboration is provided in section 3, page 90 which confirms this spend is across all trunk roads in Scotland and is spent in line with our published programme of road improvements and our needs based maintenance priorities.

Schools

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital resources are available to fund physical improvements to schools in which no rationalisation of educational provision is possible.

Maureen Watt: Under the terms of the concordat signed on 14 November 2007, we will provide local government in Scotland with almost £3 billion of capital resources over three years to secure local government investment in schools and other infrastructure. This represents an average increase of 15% in each year of the settlement compared to 2007-08 figures. This will further enable authorities to deploy resources as they see fit, according to their own priorities and circumstances.

Schools

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its policy is on school closures.

Fiona Hyslop: We are committed to tightening the regulations around all school closures and to introducing a legislative presumption against the closure of rural schools. Statute prescribes that decisions on individual school closure cases are for local authorities to take. Last month I wrote to education conveners setting out how I expect authorities to handle and conduct closure proposals.

Schools

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will bring forward funding to build new schools in Aberdeenshire in 2008-09.

Maureen Watt: As indicated in the concordat signed by the Scottish Government and COSLA on 14 November 2007, there is significant growth in the capital resources being made available to local authorities to secure investment in local government infrastructure, including schools. The almost £3 billion local authority capital budget over three years includes an extra £115 million in 2008-09 which can be invested in schools. It is for authorities to deploy the capital resources according to their priorities, and to maximise their school building programme by utilising all available sources of funding.

Schools

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it intends to give to school nurses in secondary schools to deliver the sexual health strategy.

Shona Robison: We will use findings of the current review of the sexual health strategy to determine how best to support the contribution of nurses working in schools in delivering the strategy.

  There are many nurses across Scotland already delivering sexual health and relationship education in addition to supporting the delivery of drop-in services in schools.

Schools

Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it still plans to double the number of school nurses over the period of the spending review.

Shona Robison: Our plans are to increase the range of nursing and other healthcare support available to school aged children and young people. A health care model targeted at deprived and other areas with high numbers of disadvantaged children will be developed in 2008, and School nurses will have an important part to play in this.

Scottish Enterprise

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether social enterprises will be represented on the regional advisory boards to be set up as part of the new structure for Scottish Enterprise.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether co-operative businesses will be represented on the regional advisory boards to be set up as part of the new structure for Scottish Enterprise.

Jim Mather: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-4699 on 12 October 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Scottish Government Expenditure

Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what the changes are from the 2007-08 baseline for each proposed budget line at levels (a) one, (b) two and (c) three of the Environment and Rural Affairs portfolio resulting from Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007, expressed in real (i) cash and (ii) percentage terms for each year of the spending review.

Richard Lochhead: The information requested for level 1 and 2 is given in Draft Budget 2008-09: Real Terms Analysis, a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 44133).

Scottish Government Funding

Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to the Fire Capital Grant in 2007-08.

Fergus Ewing: £24.6 million has been allocated to the Fire Capital Grant in 2007-08.

Scottish Government Grants

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the reasons were for the decision not to award Young’s Seafood a grant of £426,000, intended for the development of deshelling machines for its site in Annan and applied for under the Fish Processing and Marketing Scheme.

Richard Lochhead: The decision to cancel the award, taken prior to the current Scottish Government taking office, was on the basis that subsequent to the fire at the Young’s Annan facility in March 2007 the company confirmed that the project would not be completed and a claim would not be submitted.

Scottish Government Grants

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5991 by Richard Lochhead on 15 November 2007, on what date Young’s Seafood withdrew its application for a grant of £426,000 under the Fish Processing and Marketing Scheme.

Richard Lochhead: Young’s Seafood confirmed on the 2 May 2007 that the project would not be completed and a claim would not be submitted.

Scottish Government Publications

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish its code of practice for the publication of official statistics.

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any guidance to civil servants on the use of official statistics for party political purposes.

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any guidance to civil servants on the publication and presentation of official statistics.

Jim Mather: Currently most official statistics publications produced by the Scottish Government are classed as National Statistics and are produced according to the National Statistics Code of Practice. Even those official statistics publications which do not meet all the National Statistics requirements are produced according to the National Statistics Code as far as possible.

  The current National Statistics Code is published and can be found at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/cop/default.asp.

  Under the Statistics and Registration Service Act, the Statistics Board will prepare and publish a new Code of Practice for Statistics. This new statutory code, which will replace the current National Statistics Code, is to be a best practice guide for all official statistics. Further, the board will use this code to re-assess all current National Statistics and assess official statistics that are put forward for National Statistics designation, including those produced by and for the Scottish Government.

  The board’s code will not be published until some time after the act is brought into force in April 2008.

Scottish Government Publications

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any guidance to civil servants on the publication of ad hoc statistics.

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any guidance to civil servants on the publication and presentation of ad hoc official statistics.

Jim Mather: Guidance on all National Statistics and Official Statistics publications is contained in the Code of Practice for National Statistics, which is published at: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/about_ns/cop/default.asp .

  All other information which might be regarded as ad hoc statistics are covered by more general codes such as:

  The Civil Service Code, which is published at: http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/iam/codes/cscode/index.asp.

  The Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002. However, there is specific guidance for Freedom of Information and Statistics, which is published at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/scotstat/guidance.

  During election times guidance is provided, the guidance for the 2007 is published at: http://www.scottishexecutive.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/election-guidance2007.

Scottish Government Publications

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish any guidance to civil servants on the use of ad hoc official statistics for party political purposes.

Jim Mather: There are no plans to produce ad hoc official statistics nor has this happened in the past. Official statistical publications are produced according to the Code of Practice for National Statistics as far as possible, and ad hoc statistics are produced according to more general codes.

  Therefore, I refer the member to the answer to questions S3W-6067 and S3W-6068 on 29 November 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Small Businesses

John Park (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-5971 by John Swinney on 6 November 2007, what measures it will take to encourage investment by small and medium-sized businesses in research and development.

Jim Mather: The Executive is working closely with the business community to help improve our position with regard to business expenditure on research and development.

  There is a comprehensive pipeline of business support and we are simplifying our research and development grant schemes. The new SMART: SCOTLAND programme launched in April 2007 is significantly enhanced and I have just announced the first six months-worth of accepted offers. The final phase of simplification will bring the two Scottish Enterprise schemes (R&Dplus and Innovation Support) together with the Scottish Government’s SCORE scheme into a single research and development grant open to companies of all sizes. This will be available early in 2008 and will provide a significant increase in the research and development support available to small and medium-sized businesses in Scotland.

Small Businesses

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost will be of implementing the Small Business Bonus Scheme in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

John Swinney: The estimated additional cost of implementing the Small Business Bonus Scheme which has been assumed in the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 is as follows:

  

 (a) £ Million
 2008-09
 2009-10
 2010-11


 Estimated additional cost of the Small Business Bonus Scheme
 37
 89
 139



  This represents the estimated additional cost of the Small Business Bonus scheme at the percentage levels set out in the table included on page 12 of the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 compared with the assumed annual cost of the existing Small Business Rate Relief scheme, which amounts to approximately £24 million in 2007-08.

  Notes:

  1.The Non-Domestic Rate income estimates included in the table in Chapter 27: Local Government of the Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 (page 142) are stated net of all rate reliefs, including the Small Business Bonus Scheme.

  2.The Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007 is available at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/11/13092240/0.

Small Businesses

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether inclusion in the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be dependent on the provision of evidence relating to energy efficiency measures.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether inclusion in the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be dependent on the provision of evidence of increased investment.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether inclusion in the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be dependent on the provision of evidence of research and development.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether inclusion in the Small Business Bonus Scheme will be dependent on evidence of staff training.

John Swinney: The Small Business Bonus Scheme will provide relief from business rates for all small businesses with properties whose combined rateable value is £15,000 or less (subject to eligibility). Inclusion in the scheme does not depend on evidence of any other factor.

Sport

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of resources will be committed to any sports facilities fund that is established.

Stewart Maxwell: Officials are in discussions with sportscotland about funding priorities for sport for the period to 2011 including funding for sports facilities. It has been an extremely tight spending round but we have secured additional funding for sport.

Sport

Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional investment it will provide for the development of sport in Orkney in the years leading up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Stewart Maxwell: The Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games offer an unrivalled opportunity to inspire a new generation to take up sport and to be physically active. Within 100 days of the announcement of the decision to host the games in Glasgow, we will publish for consultation an initial plan of how to capture these benefits.

  It is for Orkney Council to decide levels of investment in sport in Orkney. In accordance with the Concordat agreed between the Scottish Government and COSLA on 14 November 2007, we have no plans to ring-fence any funding to local government for this purpose.

  Officials are in discussions with sportscotland about funding priorities for sport for the period to 2011. It has been an extremely tight spending round but we have secured additional funding for sport. Orkney can be considered for additional funding in accordance with existing schemes and procedures and will continue to benefit from our funding of active schools.

Sport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage competing nations to use Shetland as a training base in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government would like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will build on work already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possible are used as training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Games.

  Further information on how we intend to ensure that all parts of Scotland benefit from the Commonwealth Games will be published for consultation within the first 100 days of winning the bid.

Sport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has for (a) maintaining existing and (b) building new sports facilities in Shetland to accommodate teams that use the area as a training base in the lead-up to the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Stewart Maxwell: It is a statutory responsibility of local authorities to provide adequate sporting facilities in their area, maintaining existing facilities and building new facilities as dictated by the needs of the community.

  The Scottish Government would like as many teams as possible to base a training camp in Scotland prior to the 2014 Commonwealth Games. We will build on work already being done to ensure as many Scottish facilities as possible are used as training camps in the lead up to the London 2012 Games.

Student Finance

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will next increase the Young Students Bursary and by how much.

Fiona Hyslop: The Scottish Budget announced that an additional £30 million is to be invested in 2010-11 to increase bursary support and to progress the move from loans to grants.

  The Scottish Government will consider how best to use this money as part of the consultation next year. This could include adding an element of new funding to the Young Students Bursary, but that decision will be influenced by the results of the consultation exercise.

Suicide

Michael Matheson (Falkirk West) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated to each local authority for the Choose Life project in the last two years and how much will be allocated in the next financial year.

Shona Robison: Funding allocation to each local authority for Choose Life for the last two years is recorded in the following table:

  

 Area
2006-07 Allocation (£000)
2007-08 Allocation (£000)


 Aberdeen City
 114
 114


 Aberdeenshire
 117
 117


 Angus
 87
 87


 Argyll and Bute
 83
 83


 Clackmannanshire
 72
 72


 Dumfries and Galloway
 97
 97


 Dundee City
 97
 97


 East Ayrshire
 90
 90


 East Dunbartonshire
 87
 87


 East Lothian
 83
 83


 East Renfrewshire
 83
 83


 Edinburgh, City of
 173
 173


 Eilean Siar
 67
 67


 Falkirk
 97
 97


 Fife
 148
 148


 Glasgow City
 206
 206


 Highland
 113
 113


 Inverclyde
 81
 81


 Midlothian
 80
 80


 Moray
 82
 82


 North Ayrshire
 94
 94


 North Lanarkshire
 141
 141


 Orkney Islands
 65
 65


 Perth and Kinross
 94
 94


 Renfrewshire
 104
 104


 Scottish Borders
 87
 87


 Shetland Islands
 66
 66


 South Ayrshire
 88
 88


 South Lanarkshire
 136
 136


 Stirling
 82
 82


 West Dunbartonshire
 84
 84


 West Lothian
 100
 100


 Total
 3,198 million
 3,198 million



  In addition to this allocation, an additional £200,000 was allocated in 2006-08 (£100,000 per annum) to help support suicide prevention action in the Highlands and to help increase knowledge aimed at improving suicide prevention in other remote and rural areas of Scotland. This additional resource reflects the specific challenges of preventing suicide in these communities.

  Funding for suicide prevention work continues in 2008-09. The national functions will be funded at almost £1 million. The £3.2 million approximately that has been given to local authorities in 2006-07 and 2007-08, with guidance that it should be spent on suicide prevention, has been rolled into the total budget for local government in 2008-09. We would hope that local authorities would still see suicide prevention as a priority and will work with them on that basis.

Supporting People

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was allocated for the Supporting People grant in 2007-08.

Stewart Maxwell: A total of £401 million was distributed in Supporting People grant to local authorities in 2007-08.

Supporting People

Jim Tolson (Dunfermline West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be rolled into the local authority settlement for the Supporting People grant in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11.

Stewart Maxwell: The 2007-08 baseline for Supporting People (£384 million) has been rolled into the local government finance settlements for the period 2008-11.

Tourism

Lewis Macdonald (Aberdeen Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to achieve increased numbers of visitors to Scotland from Wales.

Jim Mather: As part of the work to meet the shared ambition of a 50% growth in tourism revenue in the decade to 2015, VisitScotland undertakes extensive marketing to promote Scotland, both overseas and in the UK, as a quality tourism destination.

  To ensure that this marketing achieves maximum effectiveness, VisitScotland undertook a significant research programme in 2006 to develop its understanding of the UK tourism market. This identified 10 consumer segments within the UK, some currently "cold" in terms of their propensity to travel to Scotland and some already "warm". From the segments identified, and in light of the 50% ambition, VisitScotland is concentrating on the six segments which offer the best potential for increasing the volume and value of domestic tourism to Scotland. As 73% of holiday-takers in Wales and the West Country appear not to be disposed towards visiting Scotland, Wales is not currently a specific target for VisitScotland’s marketing and resources.

  However, as VisitScotland makes use of satellite TV nationally to promote Scotland, as well as using press advertisements in some national press, many people in Wales will be exposed to Scotland’s tourism marketing. Of course any visitors that do stay here will experience a wonderful welcome and wish to return; also spreading the word. This can be the most-effective form of marketing, accounting for more than three out of four decisions on holiday destination.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided for Homecoming Scotland.

Jim Mather: In 2006-07 and 2007-08 the Homecoming Scotland project has had a total budget of £1.5 million to cover the project inception phase of the project, including the costs of initial design and stakeholder engagement. In our spending plans for 2008-09 to 2010-11 we have set out plans to spend £3.2 million each year on major events and themed years. A large proportion of this funding in 2008-09 and 2009-10 will be allocated to Homecoming Scotland to cover further project costs, including support for events which will drive tourism growth and link to the themes of Homecoming Scotland.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be focused on events and projects in Ayrshire as part of Homecoming Scotland.

Jim Mather: No specific allocations will be made to particular areas. Instead, events organisers are being asked by the Homecoming Scotland project team to put forward proposals for funding support, and these will then be assessed according to the project criteria of driving tourism growth while linking to the themes of Homecoming Scotland. These are Burns, ancestral tourism, golf, whisky and the Enlightenment. The results of that assessment will be known in April 2008.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be available for community and regional organisations to bid for as part of Homecoming Scotland.

Jim Mather: No specific allocations will be made to particular types of events. Instead, events organisers are being asked by the Homecoming Scotland project team to put forward proposals for funding support, and these will then be assessed according to the project criteria of driving tourism growth while linking to the themes of Homecoming Scotland. These are Burns, ancestral tourism, golf, whisky and the Enlightenment. There is a fund of £1 million available to support such events, and the results of that assessment will be known in April 2008.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific events and projects it will support to celebrate the life and work of Robert Burns as part of Homecoming Scotland.

Jim Mather: No specific allocations will be made to particular themes within the overall Homecoming Scotland framework. Instead, events organisers are being asked by the Homecoming Scotland project team to put forward proposals for funding support, and these will then be assessed according to the project criteria of driving tourism growth while linking to the themes of Homecoming Scotland, including Burns. The results of that assessment will be known in April 2008. The project team is working with the World Burns Federation which is being consulted on any Burns-related event plans.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work has been undertaken to market Homecoming Scotland internationally.

Jim Mather: VisitScotland began introducing Homecoming Scotland into its international PR, consumer marketing and trade activity in April 2007. It will prioritise Homecoming Scotland as the lead message in its long-haul market programmes beginning in spring 2008 and through into 2009.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what work it has undertaken to raise awareness in Scotland of Homecoming Scotland.

Jim Mather: The Homecoming Scotland project team are currently finalising plans for raising awareness within Scotland through a PR and media campaign and in other ways. A prerequisite is to have a developed programme of events to use as a platform for this campaign.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism last met EventScotland to discuss the planned programme of events for Homecoming Scotland.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government ministers and officials have been meeting frequently with EventScotland to discuss plans for Homecoming Scotland.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism last met Homecoming Scotland’s project officer.

Jim Mather: Scottish Government ministers and officials have been meeting with the Homecoming Scotland project team to discuss plans for Homecoming Scotland.

Tourism

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any minister will make a statement to the Parliament to update MSPs on the progress of Homecoming Scotland.

Jim Mather: I made such a statement as part of the tourism debate on 29 November 2007.

Transport

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether provision has been made in the spending review for construction of a replacement Forth crossing, beyond the sums shown on page 52 of Scottish Budget: Spending Review 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: This settlement provides the additional resources required to take forward the design and preparation (e.g. environmental impact assessment, ground investigation, environmental, topographical and traffic surveys) for the replacement Forth Crossing.

Transport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding was allocated to organisations and projects under the Transport and Innovation budget in each of the last three years, broken down by funding stream and expressed in real terms and also showing any year-on-year real term percentage changes.

Stewart Stevenson: The Transport Strategy and Innovation Budget is a new line which was announced in the Strategic Spending Review on 14 November 2007. It will commence in financial year 2008-09.

Transport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding has been allocated to Sustrans in each of the last three years, broken down by funding stream and expressed in real terms, also showing any year-on-year real term percentage changes.

Stewart Stevenson: Over the last three years, Sustrans has received funding for maintaining and extending the National Cycle Network; supporting School Travel Coordinators based in local authorities, and promoting cycling and walking to school through initiatives that tackle the school run. A breakdown of spend by funding streams is in the table below. Real term figures are not available.

  

 Programme
NCN
(£ Million)
School Run (£ Million)
STC Support
(£ Million)
Total
(£ Million)



 Year


 2005-06
 3.5
 0
 0.150
 3.650


 2006-07
 4.0
 3.614
 0.215
 7.829


 2007-08
 4.0
 4.3
 0.225
 8.525

Transport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding will be allocated to Sustrans in (a) 2008-09, (b) 2009-10 and (c) 2010-11, broken down by funding stream and expressed in real terms, also showing any year-on-year real term percentage change.

Stewart Stevenson: There has been no decision made yet on grant allocations to Sustrans for the period 2008-11. My officials will be discussing potential spending plans with key stakeholders, including Sustrans, and decisions will be made after that.

Voluntary Organisations

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive why funding for Project Scotland has been terminated.

Jim Mather: We have offered funding to Project Scotland in 2008-09 of £1.4 million to ensure that all current commitments to those seeking placements under its current programme can be fulfilled.

  We are appreciative of the benefits that Project Scotland has generated in raising the profile of volunteering among young people and for the opportunities it has offered to individuals who participated in the programme. However, we have decided that our approach should be to facilitate volunteering opportunities for as many people as possible, of all ages and backgrounds, using a wide range of providers.

Wildlife

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any plans to review legislation regarding the use of snares in Scotland.

Michael Russell: The Scottish Government is currently undertaking a review of legislation regarding the use of snares in Scotland.

Wildlife

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when the results of the consultation on snaring practices in Scotland will be published.

Michael Russell: The consultation on snaring closed on the 28 February 2007; both the responses and the initial analysis have been published on the Scottish Government Website at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/Recent .